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Cranberry Crumble Bars Recipe

Cranberry Crumble Bars

Treat yourself to the perfect balance of sweet and tart with these irresistible Cranberry Crumble Bars—one bite and you'll be hooked!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 250 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup 226 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup 100 g granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup 100 g light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 1/4 cups 405 g all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 2/3 cup 133 g granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar sifted
  • 4 tbsp whole milk or heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides.
  • Add the egg and vanilla, mixing well. Scrape down the sides.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until the dough just starts to come together. Avoid overmixing.
  • Set aside about 2 cups of dough.
  • Press the remaining dough into the prepared pan evenly and bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden. Let it cool slightly.
  • Combine cranberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla in a bowl. Spread over the pre-baked crust.
  • Break the reserved dough into pieces and place them on top of the cranberry filling.
  • Bake for about 45 minutes, covering with foil for the last 10-15 minutes to prevent over-browning.
  • Cool the bars completely on a wire rack before adding the vanilla glaze.
  • Vanilla Glaze:
  • Whisk powdered sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla until smooth. Adjust consistency with more milk or sugar.
  • Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars.
  • Slice into squares and enjoy!

Notes

Notes:
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Bars can be frozen without the glaze. Defrost at room temperature before adding the glaze.
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